Mercator, Maritime training museum in Ostend, Belgium
Mercator is a sailing vessel measuring 78.4 meters in length, now anchored as a museum ship in Ostend. The ship features three masts equipped with 15 sails, including multiple jibs and square rigging on the forward masts.
Built in 1932 in Leith, Scotland, the vessel served as a training ship for the Belgian merchant navy. In 1961 it became a floating museum, where it has welcomed visitors ever since.
The name references a famous cartographer and connects the vessel to Flanders' seafaring heritage. Visitors can experience how sailors lived and worked aboard during the age of sailing ships, gaining insight into maritime traditions.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM and sits near Ostend City Hall. Wear comfortable shoes, as boarding involves stairs and moving between decks requires navigating narrow passageways.
In 1936, the ship carried the remains of Flemish missionary Pater Damiaan from Hawaii back to Belgium, a journey marking an important moment in the nation's history. Damiaan was a revered figure known for his devotion to caring for the sick.
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